Rotary engine.



F. HUPE.

OTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED IANJ. 1915.

Patented May 4, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

FW Y 5g F. HUPE.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 7, I9I5.

Patented May 4, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witness@ F. HUPE.

ROTARYENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 7, 1915.

Patented May 4, 1915.

3 sH'EETs-SIIEET 3.

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FRIEDRICH HUPE, THE UNITED STATES NAVY.

ROTARY ENGINE.

To all wlwm it may concern:

`Be 1t known that I, FRIEDRICH HUPE, a

citizen of the United States, stationed onA board the U. S. S. Michigan, have invented to be projected by cam-actuated means to.

coperate with the abutment and receive the driving fluid to propel the rotor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a steam engine constructed with a cylinder divided into a pair of compartments each formed with a reversely disposed abutment coperating with oppositely arranged pistons mounted to swing on a rotor and constituting an arrangement adapted to be driven in either a forward or reverse direction.

A further object of the present invention resides in providing an improved steam engine which will be constructed of few and simple parts, readily assembled, and adjusted to reduce the wear on the same, thereby prolonging the life of the engine; and which parts may be readily removed and replaced when desired.

lVith these and other objects in View the invention consists in the novel details of construction and combinations of parts more fully hereinafter disclosed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in whichsimilar rrference symbols indicate correspond.- ing parts in the several views: Figure 1 is an end elevational view, partly. in section, of a steam engine constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 4 is a substantially horizontal sectional view, partly in plan and illustrating a section through one of the piston spinilles. Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevational view,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led January 7, 1915. Serial No. 961.

Patented May 4, 1915.

partly in section, of a pair of pistons and associated parts. Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of the same; and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of the framework, illustrating in horizontal section, an enlarged detail of the journal boxes.

Referring more particularly to the drawlngs, the engine cylinder is preferably constructed in two parts 1 and 2, divided vertically and connected together by bolts, or other suitable devices, 3. The cylinder sections 1 and 2 are cast with base portions 4 and 5, whereby the engine may be mounted upon a suitable bed; and the base portions 4 and 5 are formed with pedestals 6 and 7, erected in spaced relation to the engine cylinder. Each cylinder section 1 and 2 is further cast with horizontally-disposed members 8 and 9, cooperating with'the respective pedestals 6 and 7 to support therebetween bearing boxes 10, wherein is journaled a main shaft 11.

The rotor 12 of the engine is constructed with a central partition plate 13 for dividing the cylinder into a pair of compartments closed by heads 14 and 15, bolted or otherwise secured to flanges 16 and 17 projecting from the partition 13 to either side thereof, and located in the respective compartments of the cylinder. As disclosed to advantage in Figs. 3 and 4, the cylinder sections 1 and 2 are formed with abutments 18 and 19, disposed to either side of the base of the engine and arranged in reverse relation.

'In the partition plate 13 and the cylinder heads 14 and 15 are journaled a plurality` of piston supporting spindles 20, more particularly illustrated in Fig. 5 to be provided with a central bearing collar 21 journaled in the partition 13. To either side of the bearing collar 21 are mounted sleeves 22 and 23 adjustably held upon the spindle 2O by set screws 24 and 25. The sleeves 22 and 23 are arranged to support spaced pairs of arms 26 and 27, projecting in opposite directions, and t0 which are respectively connected companion pistons 28 and 29 operating to either side of the partition 13 in the separate compartments formed thereby. As shown more particularly in Fig. 6, the pistons 28 and 29 are formed arcuate, so as to oscillate with a tight fit through slots provided in the respective iianges 16 and 17 of lthe rotor, as shown in Fig. 3. The arcuate pistons are preferably connected to the arms 26 and 27 by means of v j usted as required.

Each spindle 2O projects beyond the cylinder heads 14 and 15, and is shaped to receivearms 32 and 33 extending in opposite directions, and provided at their outer free ends with rollers 34 and 35 engaging cam tracks 3G and 87, bolted or otherwise secured to the horizontal members 8 and 9 and the respective pedestals 6 and 7 of the engine frame.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 7 of the drawings, the bearing boxes 10 supported, as above described, between the horizontal members 8 and 9 and the pedestals, are arranged to receive a fianged cage 38 in which is mounted the journal box comprising, preferably, a pair of members 39 and 40 threaded together and inclosing the concentric rings 41 and 42, providing therebetween races for the ball bearings 43. The cage 3S is supported in the bearing box 10 by means of set screws 44, Which may be adjusted to center the engine shaft 11, in order to insure the proper positioning of the rotor and pistons within the cylinder.

rlhe abutment 18, in the compartment of the engine cylinder, arranged between the partition plate 13 and head 14, is traversed by -intake and exhaust ports, respectively, 46 and 47; and smilar1y,the abutment 19 of the opposite compartment is traversed by intake ports 49 and 50, the relation of the several ports being disclosed to advantage in Fig. 3.

In operation, the driving medium is introduced either through the intake 4G of the cylinder portion 1, or the intake 49 of the portion 2, accordingly as it is desired to drive the engine in either a forward or reverse direction. The fluid is directed against the piston blades 28 or 29, and acts upon the same to impart movement to the rotor. As the rotor revolves, the rollers 34 and 35 are actuated by the cam tracks 36 and 37 to alternatcly project and retract the pistons as the abutments are encountered, maintaining the pistons constantly in contact with the inner peripheral edge of the respective cylinder sections 1 and 2. It will be understood that the cam tracks and associated roller and arm connections for the pistons will each coperate together to insure the proper actuation of the pistons, as thev arrangements will be seen to be reciprocal.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention, and therefore I do not wish to be limited to such features except as may be required by the claims.

claim:

1. In a rotary engine, the combination of a cylinder, a rotor ournaled in said cylinder, a partition constructed with said rotor and arranged to divide the cylinder to provide a pair of compartments, an abutment located in each of said compartments and formed with intake and exhaust ports, c lindrical flanges projecting from said partition into each of said compartments, cylinder heads for inclosing said compartments connected to said ianges, spindles Ijournaled through said partition and cylinder heads, a pair of pistons mounted on each of said spindles and arranged to operate one in each of said compartments, and means for rocking said spindles to actuate the piston, substantially as described. v

2. In a rotary engine, the combination of a cylinder, a. rotor journaled in said cylinder, a partition constructed to rotate With said rotor and arranged to divide said cylinder to provide a pair of compartments, abut ments located in said compartments and provided with intake and exhaust ports, cylindrical lianges projecting from said partition and arranged to revolve one in each of said compartments, cylinder heads for inclosing said compartments and connected to said langes, spindles journaled through said partition and cylinder heads, a sleeve mounted on said spindle one to each side of said partition and connected to move with the same, pistons supported from said sleeves and adapted to be projected through the respective cylindrical flanges into said cylinder compartments, an arm connected to each opposite end of said spindle, and cam means for actuating said arms to rock the spindles as the rotor revolves, substantially as described.

3. In a rotary engine, the combination of a cylinder built up of a pair of vertically divided sections, means for connecting said sections together, pedestals cast with said cylinder sections, a main shaft journaled in said pedestals, a. rotor mounted to revolve with said shaft and constructed with a central partition for dividing the cylinder te provide a pair of compartments, abutments located in said compartments and provided with intake and exhaust ports, and pistons carried by said rotor for cooperating with the abutments in said compartments, substantially as described.

4. In a rotary engine, the combination of a cylinder` built up of a pair of vertically divided sections, means for connecting said sections together, bases cast with said sections, pedestalscast with said sections and erected in spaced relation thereto, horizontal members extending in opposite directions from said cylinder sections and jointed centrally to said pedestals, a main shaft journaled in said pedestals and horizontal members, a rotor mounted on said shaft within the cylinder, and pistons carried by said rotor, substantially as described.

5. In a rotary engine, the combination of a cylinder built up of a pair of vertically divided sections, bases cast with said sections, pedestals cast with said bases, a main shaft journaled in said pedestals, arotor mounted on said main shaft and constructed with a partition for dividing said cylinder to provide a pair of compartments, a reversely disposed abutment located in each of said cylinders and provided each with intake andexhaust ports, cylindrical flanges proj ecting in opposite directions fromsaid partition and arranged to rotate in the respective cylinder compartments, a pair of cylinder heads for inclosing the sides of the compartments and connectedto said flanges, a

plurality of spindles journaled through said partition and cylinder heads, separate series of pistons mounted on said spindles to either side of said partition and arranged in reverse relation to correspond with Ythe respective abutments, and means for rocking.

said spindles to actuate said pistons, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, ailix my signature, in presence of. two Witnesses.

FRIEDRICH HUQPE. Witnesses:

JOSEPH KIEFER, FREDERICK KOHLER. 

